In the present study we have investigated the population genetic structure of albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Bonnaterre 1788) and assessed the loss of genetic diversity, likely due to overfishing, of albacore population in the North Atlantic Ocean. For this purpose, 1,331 individuals from 26 worldwide locations were analyzed by genotyping 75 novel nuclear SNPs. Our results indicated the existence of four genetically homogeneous populations delimited within the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Current definition of stocks allows the sustainable management of albacore since no stock includes more than one genetic entity. In addition, short- and long-term effective population sizes were estimated for the North Atlantic Ocean albacore population, and results showed no historical decline for this population. Therefore, the genetic diversity and, consequently, the adaptive potential of this population have not been significantly affected by overfishing.
AZTI, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia Portualdea z/g, Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;AZTI, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia Portualdea z/g, Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;Cell Biology & Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology & Biotechnology (PIE) & Department of Zoology & Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain;AZTI, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia Portualdea z/g, Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain;AZTI, Marine Research Division, Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, Sukarrieta (Bizkaia), Spain;Laboratory of Pelagic Resources, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos (DINARA), Constituyente 1497, Montevideo, Uruguay;Fisheries Faculty of Istanbul University, Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey;Fisheries Faculty of Istanbul University, Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey;Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
Recommended Citation:
Urtzi Laconcha,Mikel Iriondo,Haritz Arrizabalaga,et al. New Nuclear SNP Markers Unravel the Genetic Structure and Effective Population Size of Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)[J]. PLOS ONE,2015-01-01,10(6)